In a sleepy countryside church, Chloe plays the part of a prim and naïve novice, studying to become a cleric. But when night falls, she sneaks out in disguise to win big money at cards! Despite her best efforts, word gets around, and one day a handsome young holy knight named Erald—known as a rising star in the capital—arrives to enlist her help. A murder two years ago threatens the stability of the kingdom, and Erald thinks this card shark in sister's clothes can solve it using her charism—the rare blessing that allows someone to use magic. Little does Heraldo know, there's nothing supernatural about Chloe's winning streak. She's just got a quick wit, and sharp eyes! Will that be enough to survive the den of devils that is the great church?

You Can’t Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister is written by Yo Asami and drawn by Chiho Shinishi, based on a work by Natsu Hyūga. English translation by Kevin Steinbach. Lettered by Dietrich Premier. Published by Kodansha Comics (October 21, 2025). Rated T.

Caitlin Moore
Rating:

It feels gauche to discuss an author's new work in reference to their old one, but I feel like it's inescapable when talking about You Can’t Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister. After all, it's the manga adaptation of a novel series by Natsu Hyūga, best known as the creator of the phenomenally popular The Apothecary Diaries. And bless her heart, Hyuga has once again written a series about a mostly ordinary young woman with a single preternatural talent trying to solve a mystery while surrounded by exceptional people.

This time, it takes place in a fantasy Europe where some people, primarily women, have god-given gifts called “charisms,” a term that makes my spell checker very upset and confused. The ones most blessed with power and beauty may become vestal maidens, church officials chosen to represent the nation. Chloe, a novice cleric, is pretty but not beautiful, and she lacks a charism but has such keen powers of observation and reading body language that her gambling skill appears to be supernatural. This gets her chosen to become a candidate for a new Vestal Maiden, but not due to her beauty or grace. Instead, the son of a noble family wants her to solve the murder of the last vestal maiden two years ago, his younger sister.

So, I guess it's a bit like The Apothecary Diaries meets The Mentalist or Psych? You kids know what those shows are, right? But even if I can describe it in terms of other series, that doesn't change that Natsu Hyūga is a talented writer whose work I have consistently enjoyed. It's okay that Chloe's place in the world resembles Maomao's, because The Apothecary Diaries has interesting things to say about that, and I'm curious to see if this one tugs even further at those threads. Besides, this story is about solving a single murder, at least for now, and the supernatural elements muddy the water even further.

Chiho Shinishi's art bolsters Hyuga's storytelling beautifully as well. It's clean and attractive, but with enough personality and weight that it doesn't have that over-processed look that some manga made with modern digital tools have. What's more, framing is essential in a murder mystery story, especially one that hinges on the sleuth's ability to read body language. Through her paneling and framing, Shinishi shows a real sense of how to direct the reader's eye… or misdirect, as the case may end up being.

It's hard to judge a story like this from just the first volume, when we don't know how well the narrative will pay off. Still, it's hard not to put my faith in Natsu Hyūga when she already has one incredible mystery series under her belt. I don't want to just say, “Try this if you like The Apothecary Diaries,” but really, what's the chance anyone reading this hasn't tried The Apothecary Diaries already?

Erica Friedman
Rating:

This story was fantastic in every way. Absolutely everyone should read it. Well, everyone who might be interested in a CSI-meets-Sherlock-magical-fantasy- with-gambling, at least. Created by Natsu Hyūga, author of The Apothecary Diaries, this fast-moving story about a mysterious death in a political competition is an incredibly fun read.

We meet Sister Chloe as she is raking in the coins after a night of card playing. She's not a cheat or a sharp, she is just sharp-eyed and tuned into people's tells and body language. I'd have been content to have Chloe explain how she wins a card, but when Chloe is approached by Paladin Erald, the whole story takes on a deeper plot.

Two years ago, at the competition for the Vestal Maiden, a young candidate, a member of Erald's house, was murdered. Erald and his family need someone who has the skill of reading people, without a magical-ish ability called “Charism,” to look for the murderer. Hopelessly venal, Chloe is convinced to join this plan by the offer of bags of coins and the desire to see justice done.

Everything about this volume was fun. The characters are self-aware, even if they are overplayed types. The set-up feels like a typical Villainess story — there is a villainess, maybe more than one— but it's Chloe's down-to-earth smarts that really steal the story.

The fact that Erald's family is richer than Croesus is an ongoing gag, and the biggest handwave of the story – we know Chloe will be fine when Erald can throw money at just about any situation he can't handle himself as an accomplished paladin. If you like mysteries and fantasy, this series promises to be a lot of goofy fun, with some light murder on the side.

And it has magical, sorry, “sacred” squirrels, which were very cute and menacing. Merchandising!